Receptacle



June 30, 1942. M. L. RATHBUN 2,288,421

RECEPTACLE Filed Oct. 5, 1939 Patented June 30, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RECEPTAOLE Merrill L. Rathbun, Salamanca, N. Y.

Application October 5, 1939, Serial No. 298,109

2 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in receptacles and more particularly to receptacles for securing and displaying articles of merchandise.

One embodiment of the inventiondiscloses a receptacle adapted to accommodate and display small articles of merchandise such, for example, as jewelry A wrist-watch is shown for the purpose of illustrating one application of the invention, but it will be understood that other articles of merchandise may be mounted and displayed in a manner similar to that hereinafter set forth.

Prior to this invention, receptacles of this class have been generally of elongated form for the purpose of accommodating a strap watch, pendant, beads, etc., in a manner to effect a full display of the article. Only very slight variation in shape and size of the receptacle was possible, this being dependent on the size of the article to be displayed. Furthermore, it is the usual practice to forwardly incline the displayed article to give a clearer view to those interested when said article is in a show-case or window display. Articles, such as those above enumerated, are more attractively displayed and present a more pleasing appearance if certain of the necessary and usually unornamental parts as straps, chains, clasps, etc., are partly or fully concealed.

Through use of the present invention, a strap watch or analogous article may be mounted in a manner that the least ornamental parts thereof, such as the fastener or buckle, will be convenientl concealed beneath an apertured element, the watch or other ornamental part of the article being visible through this aperture. The element that thus frames the article, as well as the article support therebeneath, is forwardly inclined to provide satisfactory display. Furthermore, since only the most ornamental parts of the article are displayed and the unornamental parts concealed beneath the element, the receptacle need not be of a generally fixed contour but may be varied as is found most suitable, from an ornamental standpoint, for the article to be displayed.

One of the objects of the invention lies in the provision of a receptacle having a support for displaying articles of merchandise.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of a receptacle having a hinged element for framing an article of merchandise.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of a receptacle having a hinged element for framing and securing an article of merchandise against displacement during shipment.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of a receptacle having a spring hinged element adapted to conceal the unornamental parts of a displayed article of merchandise.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of a receptacle having a spring hinged element cooperating with an article mounting pad for the purpose of securing an article in position for shipment and display.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be more fully understood from a consideration of the following specification, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing; and in which- Figure l is a perspective view of an opened receptacle showing the manner of mounting an article of merchandise for display purposes;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the invention with a part of the cover of the receptacle removed to show certain structural details;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of the receptacle prior to mounting an article, being taken substantially on the line 3--3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal vertical sectional View showing the manner of mounting an article of merchandise in the receptacle;

Figure 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a further transverse vertical sectional view, taken substantially on the line 6-5 of Figure 2; and

Figure 7 is an exploded view of the receptacle showing the method of assemblying the parts thereof.

Reference is now had to the drawing wherein the numeral Ill is employed to generally designate a receptacle embodying one form of the invention, In the present illustration, the receptacle comprises a base H, cover 12, element 13, and pad [4. The base and cover H and I2 may be of any suitable configuration and are provided with a suitable hinge structure that includes one or more springs IS, the purpose of which is to hold the cover [2 in either open or closed position. The hinge structure shownis of the type disclosed in my Patent #1,833,305, and spring l6 thus serves to secure the pivotal elements thereof in operable relationship. The base ll may be a solid structure or recessed, as is shown in the drawing. The rear wall I! of the base II is not only reinforced to provide a hinge mounting as heretofore mentioned, but also to provide a centrally disposed upstanding portion l8 that terminates in a rounded upper edge or bead l9. Substantiall midway of its length the bead I9 is vertically slotted at 2|, the base wall 22 of the slot being formed in an arc and terminating in a spring seat 23.

The element l3, in the present illustration is shell-like, the upper surface of which being rounded and forwardly inclined. A generally rectangular aperture 24 is made in the element. The rear wall 25 of the insert is reinforced and is formed with a downwardly opening curved recess 2'! that is adapted to fit the contour of the bead IQ of the wall IT. A slot 28 opens into the recess 21 midway of its length and is formed with a curved base wall 29 that terminates in a spring seat 3!. The contour of the element l3 may be varied as found either necessary or desirable to accommodate articles of merchandise of somewhat different proportions and appearance than that illustrated in the drawing,

The pad It may be spring mounted in any suitable manner, as through the provision of a bracket 32 secured to the Wall 33 of the base H. M

The bracket 33 includes a slightly upwardly offset flange 34. A spring 33 is secured to the base by means of this bracket. The end-s of the spring 36 may engage the bracket 33 or be suitably joined to the under face of the pad is. The looped portions 31 of the spring, being unattached, allow considerable vertical flexing of the pad Hi. It will be noted that the spring 35 is secured adjacent the rear edge of the pad M, and

also that this pad is inclined at an angle com- P parable to the incline of the surface of the element I3.

When it is desired to assemble the element 43 and pad Hi, the corresponding parts I9 and 21 of the base and element, respectively, are interfitted. A spring 33 is snapped into engagement with spring seats 23 and 3!. This spring serves to secure the element in operable pivotal relationship with the base it and will hold it in opened or closed position, as shown in Figures 1 and 6, respectively. A strap watch or similar article 3:) is positioned centrally of the upper surface of the pad is. The straps ii of the watch extend beyond the ends of the pad It. With the watch in this position, the element i3 is closed down upon the base H and the watch 39 and a small portion of the strap :24 project through the aperture 26. Attention is directed to the fact that the tension of spring 36 is considerably less thanthe tension of spring or springs 38 and,

therefore, when the element is moved into closed position the pad I l moves downwardly, compressing the spring 36, and the strap 4i is clamped between the pad and element. This serves to prevent inadvertent dilsplacement of the article during shipment, as well as permitting ready adjustment of the article to center it in the aperture 25. If it is desired to mount an article such as a bracelet or a watch with an endless bracelet strap, this is also possible with the present invention. The straps or bracelets are usually extendible and when extended may be slipped over the free front edge of the pad Hi to the desired position. Location of the spring 36 toward the rear of the pad makes this possible.

Although applicant has shown and described only one modification of an element and pad cooperating to support, secure and display articles of merchandise for shipment and display purposes, it will be understood that this structure may be varied to accommodate articles of different proportions and that the general contour of the element and pad, and recptacle and cover may be varied insofar as such modifications and variations are within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the hereunto annexed claims.

Having thus set forth my invention what I claim as new and for which I desire protection by Letters Patent is:

l. A receptacle for an article of merchandise comprising a base, an element disposed above and adapted at least in part to cover said base, hinge means securing said element to said base, a spring means urging said element into covering position with respect to said base, said element having a centrally disposed aperture therein, a removable pad, spring means joined to and adapted to mount said pad in said base, said pad with an article thereon being insertable into said base in a manner to register said article in part with said aperture when said element is in position to cover said base, the spring means of said element being relativel stronger than the spring means of said pad and in opposed direction whereby to compress the spring means of said pad and clamp and secure an article against displacement when said element is closed upon said base.

2. A closed receptacle for an article of merchandise comprising a hinged base and cover, an element in said receptacle, complementar pivotal means in said base and said element, spring means securing said pivotal means in operable relationship, said element having a centrally located aperture therein, a pad, a spring joined to and supporting said pad above said base, said pad being adapted to mount an article in a manner to register with and be visible through said aperture when said element is closed upon said base, the element spring means having greater tension than the spring for said pad whereby said element tends to depress said pad and clamp and secure an article therebetween.

MERRILL L. RATHBUN. 

